Category Archives: Middle Schools

Revere MS Chosen For Middle School Matters Institute

Revere Middle School has been selected to participate in the Middle School Matters Institute, a program launched in February 2011 as part of the Bush Institute’s Education Reform Initiative in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin’s Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk.

“When we found out that we were selected, and that we were the only school in HISD that was selected, we were ecstatic,” Revere MS Principal Hafedh Azaiez said. “We look forward to sharing in the experience and gaining insights and support to continue to move Revere forward and to represent HISD positively.”

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Board Members Encourage Participation in Districtwide Survey

Parents, teachers and principals need to fill out ‘Your Voice’ survey by May 20

HISD Board President Anna Eastman and Board Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are encouraging HISD parents, teachers and principals to fill out and return the Your Voice customer satisfaction survey by May 20, 2013.  The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside party so all responses will remain confidential and anonymous.  Continue reading →

Marshall MS Student Rewarded For ‘Doing Write Thing’

(Web Team)Marshall Middle School student Jordyn Turner will head to Washington D.C. this summer to serve as a Houston/Harris County ambassador at the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The seventh grader, her parents and her school principal were surprised with the news at a special ceremony at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, May 11, 2013 which brought together student finalists who wrote essays examining the problems of youth violence.

“Jordyn is a unique, spirited individual who really cares about making a difference at school and in her community,” said Marshall Middle School Principal Michael Harrison. “We are so proud of her.”

This spring, Turner and nearly 17,000 middle school students from 39 school districts in Harris County wrote essays that addressed the issues of causation, effects and solutions to violence as part of the Do the Write Thing Challenge program. The program is an initiative of the National Campaign To Stop Violence, a non-profit, non-partisan, organization composed of community, business and governmental leaders who have come together to reduce youth violence across the United States. Since its inception, it is estimated that more than 1,000,000 students have participated in the challenge.

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Student Creations to Cruise in Art Car Parade

Eight schools are participating in this weekend’s parade

Students at the Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center are putting the finishing touches on an after school art project that will soon be seen by thousands of Houstonians. Art teacher Carolyn James-Taylor and a group of middle school students have created an entry for this year’s Art Car parade which will be cruising down Houston’s streets on Saturday, May 11, 2013, starting at 3 p.m. Continue reading →

Nominate HISD’s Next Employee of the Month!

The next meeting of HISD’s Employee of the Month selection committee is right around the corner, so don’t wait if you know someone who deserves to be nominated. HISD recently streamlined the process to make it easier than ever for people to submit a nomination. Just click here, fill in the fields, and press “done.” Your nomination will automatically be submitted for consideration at the next meeting. Please note that only employees serving in a non-instructional capacity (i.e. plant operators, secretaries, clerks, custodians, crossing guards, etc.) are eligible for this award.

 

Grady Middle School Becomes Authorized IB Campus

Grady Middle School students, staff and parents are celebrating recent news that the school is now an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme campus – one of only two HISD middle schools authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme. Lanier MS is the only other authorized HISD middle school.

Grady principal Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman has been fielding congratulatory calls and emails from parents and community members since word came out that the school received IB authorization.

“It’s a great thing for our community,” said Kasper-Hoffman. “They’re looking forward to it.”

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HISD to Host Inaugural Districtwide Special Olympics Field Day

More than 1,200 students to participate during two-day event

The HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas have partnered to host the inaugural districtwide Special Olympics Field Day, a two-day event to provide athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities, on May 2 and 3.  More than 1,200 HISD students will be participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball toss events.  Houston Texans players and coaches, along with volunteers from HISD’s athletics department, the University of Houston and Hewlett Packard, will be helping out with the event.

What:  Inaugural HISD Special Olympics Field Day

Who:  HISD Office of Special Education Services staff, HISD students, coaches, Houston Texans players and coaches, and University of Houston and Hewlett Packard volunteers

When:  Thursday, May 2, 2013 (Elementary) and Friday, May 3, 2013 (Middle/High) from 9a.m. – 1p.m.

Where:  Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex, 2020 Mangum Road

HISD recognizes Principals of the Year

Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

HISD recognized eight of its most respected and effective administrators on May 1, as the Principals of the Year, First Year Principals of the Year, and Assistant Principals of the Year.

The administrators were nominated by colleagues, teachers, and students for their instructional leadership and efforts to boost student achievement, and the honorees were selected for their outstanding contributions to the district and their school communities. 

Here are the 2013 honorees:
Assistant Principals of the Year

Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

  • Elementary: Maria Espinosa, Rodriguez ES
  • Middle: Inge Garibaldi, Williams MS
  • High: Opal Harrison, Milby HS

First Year Principals of the Year

  • Elementary: Abigail Taylor, Sinclair ES
  • Secondary: Geovanny Ponce, Hartman MS

Principals of the Year

  • Elementary: Tonya Woods, Lewis ES
  • Middle: Nicole Moore Morrison, Key MS
  • High: Sonja Williams, Madison HS

See photos of all the Principal of the Year winners.

Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier congratulated the administrators during a ceremony at the monthly principals’ meeting. “There’s no doubt that these administrators represent excellence in leadership,” he said. “But there are many other equally deserving principals in this room.”

HISD School Choice Fair Offers Parents Opportunity to Explore Education Options for Students

Representatives from more than 70 HISD schools will be on-site

April 25, 2013 – When it comes to selecting a school, parents and students at the Houston Independent School District have a multitude of options from magnet programs to preschool programs to career and technical education academies and early college high schools.  Houston families will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 70 HISD schools at the upcoming HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

“In HISD, we are committed to providing equity in access to quality educational programs for all students,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat.  “We want to help families choose an ideal school for their children based on the students’ interests, talents, and needs.”

The schools at the fair are those that still have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.  The representatives from these schools will be available to answer questions, provide detailed information about their campuses and help parents fill out the application on site.

Information will be provided about HISD’s magnet schools, early colleges, vanguard programs for gifted and talented students, preschool programs, multilingual programs and other specialty programs, including the district’s newest additions to its portfolio, the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and The Energy Institute High School.   Parents and students have until May 16 to apply for these two new magnet schools that will feature a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more information about the School Choice Fair, please contact the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.

Upcoming School Choice Fair Provides Options, Answers for Parents and Students

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

At HISD, parents and students have a multitude of education options. From Montessori and magnet programs to preschool programs and early college high schools, representatives from over 70 different HISD schools will be on-hand at the third annual HISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

Schools that have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year will be available at the fair to answer questions and provide more detailed information about their campuses, answer questions about the application and student transfer process, and assist parents with making the best school choice for their children.

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Nine HISD Schools Win at State Odyssey of the Mind Competition

Students from Horn Academy pose as pirates for part of their Odyssey of the Mind competition.

Students from Horn Academy pose as pirates for part of their Odyssey of the Mind competition.

Fourteen schools participated in the state Odyssey of the Mind competition on Saturday, April 13, 2013 and students from nine of those schools will advance to the World Finals in May.

Odyssey of the Mind has become the largest international creative problem-solving competition worldwide, and HISD teams have been working hard to on their projects and presentations since October.
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Team HISD Is Hiring Exceptional STEM Teachers

HISD is actively recruiting STEM teachers who are invested in preparing our students to compete in this 21st century economy. By 2018, Texas will have added over 750,000 new jobs in STEM fields. STEM teachers are critical to ensure that Houston’s students are qualified and skilled for these positions. We are currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year. The next application deadline is April 22, 2013.
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Sharpstown International One of 12 HISD Schools to Advance to State Odyssey of the Mind Competition

Students from 12 HISD schools will compete in the state Odyssey of the Mind competition on April 13.

For students at Sharpstown International School, the excitement of advancing past the regional competition is particularly meaningful as 2013 marks their second year of participation and back-to-back wins.

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Board of Education Approves Two New Magnet Schools

New campuses will expand options for students seeking specialty schools with academically challenging courses 

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday approved creating two new magnet schools that will offer a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The newly created Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan will now begin enrolling students for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The Energy Institute High School will begin with ninth-grade students and add a grade level each year to eventually serve students in grades 9-12.  The Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan will open with a sixth-grade class and eventually serve students in grades 6-8.  Earlier this year, the Houston Independent School District Board of Education authorized the district to apply for $12 million in federal magnet school funds for these two new magnets and six others (click here for more information).

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Board of Education to Consider Two New Magnet Schools

Proposed campuses would expand options for students seeking specialty schools with academically challenging courses

The HISD Board of Education will consider a proposal Thursday to create two new magnet schools that will offer a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

If approved, the proposed Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan would immediately begin enrolling students for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The Energy Institute High School would begin with a class of ninth-grade students and add a grade level each year to eventually serve students in grades 9-12.  The Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan would open with a sixth-grade class and eventually serve students in grades 6-8.  Continue reading →

April 5 Deadline Approaching for Magnet School Entrance Agreements

Students who have been accepted to a magnet school program for the 2013-2014 school year must sign and return the school’s entrance agreement postmarked by this Friday, April 5. On Monday, April 8, school magnet coordinators will begin making phone calls to offer spots to waitlisted students. Student positions on each school’s wait list were determined by a lottery.

Students who are still looking at school options, including waitlisted students, those who have recently moved into the district, students in private or charter schools and students who may want to apply to different types of magnet programs, are invited to attend the third annual Houston ISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, located at 4400 West 18th Street.
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NFL Player and HISD Grad Donates Computers to Marshall Middle Students

Professional football player and HISD alumnus Moran Norris recently recognized ten Marshall Middle School students for academic excellence and citizenship. Each of the students received a free computer courtesy of the Moran Norris Foundation, which aims to help youth succeed through education and character. Continue reading →

‘Teach Like A Champion’ Author Gains Insight from HISD Middle Schools

As students enter the classroom of Edison Middle School teacher Mical Roy, he and his students go through a daily ritual called “threshold.” It may sound like a wrestling move, but it’s simply the act of Roy greeting his students at the door and inquiring about their day. It’s a little gesture that starts everyone off on the right foot, and establishes a warm, friendly environment.

“It’s amazing how just letting a student know that you are interested in their day can make a difference,” said Roy who has been a teacher for seven years.

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32 HISD Schools Now Serving Free Dinner to Students

With more students spending most of their day at school, HISD’s Food Services has partnered with the 21st Century Community Learning Center program to serve dinner at various campuses to ensure students have access to healthy meals each day.

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Students and Parents Invited to College and Career Night

Clifton Middle School’s annual event to help families see connection between school and careers

Students of all ages from all HISD schools are invited to attend Clifton Middle School’s annual College and Career Night on Tuesday, March 19, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This is the seventh year for the event, which will feature representatives from 18 colleges, and all 16 Texas career clusters. Continue reading →